The delivery of the first Dutch Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft has been delayed to 2027, marking a postponement of over a year, according to a recent statement from the Dutch Ministry of Defence. Despite the delay, the ministry anticipates reduced acquisition costs resulting from a collaborative agreement with Austria to jointly procure a fleet of these transport planes.
In a formal communication to Parliament, known as the “D-letter,” Dutch State Secretary of Defence Christophe Van der Maat explained that the original 2026 delivery timeline was “turned out not to be feasible due to cooperation with Austria and negotiations with the manufacturer,” as translated from Dutch. This collaboration has pushed the first aircraft’s delivery to “by the end of 2027,” with the subsequent four expected before the beginning of 2030.
The entire Dutch acquisition is valued at approximately €1.7 billion ($1.8 billion), focusing on replacing the aging fleet of C-130H Hercules airlifters. The urgency of this replacement has been accelerated by “the approaching end of the operational and technical life combined with frequent use of the aircraft due to global geopolitical developments,” the letter noted.
These new aircraft will be based at Eindhoven Air Base, with the aim to reach Initial Operating Capability, which includes having three aircraft ready for deployment, by 2028. This milestone precedes the Full Operational Capability, where all five aircraft will be operational, by two years.
The partnership was initiated when Austria expressed interest in joining the C-390 program in 2023. Subsequently, in April 2024, both countries formalized their intentions by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), committing to a total of nine aircraft. This cooperative approach not only benefits the operational logistics but also enhances the economic efficiency of the program.
Van der Maat emphasized the advantages of this joint venture, stating, “Austria has conformed to the established configuration of the aircraft and to the Dutch contract conditions.” He highlighted that the collaboration facilitates “economies of scale in production, which translates into a lower price of the aircraft.”
This strategic move aligns with a broader trend of European nations seeking collaborative defense procurement strategies to enhance capabilities while managing costs effectively.